Applicator.



T. E. ROBERSON.

APPLICATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR.24, me.

Patented July 18, 1916.

IIWEIVTOR" THO/W55 /705/?60/Y,

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS THOMAS EDGAR ROBERSON, OF SHERIDAN, WYOMING.

APPLICATOR.

mafia Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented JulyilS, 1916.

Application filed April 24, 1916. Serial No. 93,183.

My invention is an improvement in applicators, and the invention has for its object to provide a device 'of the character specified, especially designed for applying tampons of cotton or the like carrying a medicament in such manner that the tampon with a cord attached for permitting the same to be removed after it has served its purpose, may be easily and quickly inserted without chance of soiling garments or bed- .ding, and wherein mechanism is provided in connection with the applicator for PQIIIlll'w,

ting withdrawal of the applicator from the cavity without disturbing the tampon through the sticking of the cord to the applicator.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved applicator showing the method of inserting the tampon and the thread in the applicator, Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal vertical section showing the operation of displacing the tampon from the applicator into the cavity, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the tampon displaced. In the present embodiment-of the invention, the applicator which is preferably of vitrified material, as for instance, glass or any other suitable material consists of two portions, an outer casing or speculum and an inner casing or plunger, and is in the form of a cylindrical body 1,-having one end slightly reduced as" shown at 2 by bending inward the material from which the applicator is formed, and the other end isflaring or bell-shaped as shown at 3-. This flaring end which is approximately twice the diameterof the body has-an inturned curved lip 4, the free edge of the lip curving inwardly and towardthe body and forming a stop or dam for preventing escape of the medicament. x

The inner casing or plunger is a substantially cylindrical body 5, having one end slightly reduced as indicated at 6 and having at the other end a marginal outwardly extending flange 7. v This flange is of a size to fit loosely within the body of the outer casing or speculum, and the inner casing or plunger is of a length somewhat greater thanthe length of the body of the speculum so that after the inner reduced end of the plunger is in register with the inner reduced end 2 of the speculum the flange 7 will be out of contact with the inner walli'of the flared portion 3.

The tampon indicated at 8 which is of cotton, sponge, or other suitable material, has connected therewith a cord 9, in order that after the tampon has served its purpose it may be easily withdrawn. With the or- -dinary form of applicator this cord -9 is threaded through the plunger 5 which is made'hollow or tubular for this purpose.

In inserting the tampon it is placed as shown in Fig. 1, the tampon containing the medicament being placed in the outer casing or speculum, and the thread or cord 9 is engaged with the tube or bore of the plunger. The tampon is then pressed through the body as shown in Fig. 2- with the reduced end of the plunger, and when it is in'the position of Fig.2 a further pressure of the plunger will eject the tampon into the cavity to be treated. The applicator is then withdrawn, the cord passing through the plunger. In case the cord should contact with the medicament it is very liable to stick to the plunger, and to cause displacement or withdrawal of the tampon during the withv drawal of the speculum.

In addition if the cord is wet it is almost impossible to thread it through the plunger because of the fact that it tends to stick. To obviate this difficulty I have provided the plunger with a longitudinally extending split or passage 10, and this passage is of a width to permit the cord to be threaded into the .plunger in the manner shown in Fig. 1, that is, by passing the cord through the split into the interior of the plunger. It will be obviousthat no particular trouble is required to insert the cord in the plunger through the split, since it may be merely laid into the plunger and whether or not the cord is wet with the medicament will not affect this operation. p

With the present device the method of in troducingfthe tampon is substantially the same as with the ordinary applicator with the exception that the cord is placed in the plunger through the split 10 instead of being threaded through the same. Since the tampelled and with the ordinary form of applicator this liquid will flow out at the outer end of the speculum and will stain the patients clothing or bedding. For this reason the enlargement or bell 3 and the lip 4 are provided, the enlargement to receive the excess liquid and the lip to retainthe same and since the lip is annular or circular as .-well as the enlargement this will obtain whatever the position of the speculum.

After the tampon has been inserted in, the carrier and the plunger wlthdrawn the speculum may be tilted slightly to cause the liquid held by the lip 4 to return through the body into the cavity so that all of the medicament will be applied. The bell orenlargement 3 also permits the'tampon to enter the speculum without coming in contact with the outer surface of the tube. That is, the tam- "pon may enter as far as the connection be-' lindrical portion provided at one end with a flaring portion or bell having an inwardly turned annular HP at its outerjend and the plunger fitting the cylindrical portion and having a flange at its outer end, and a longitudinally extending split. for the purpose specified. J

2. An applicator comprising an outer casing or speculum and an inner casing or plunger fittlng Within'the outer casing, sa-id casngs belng tubular, and the inner casing having a split extending longitudinally thereof and from one end to -the other end for the purpose specified.

3. An applicator comprlsing an outer casv ing or speculum and aninner casing or plunger, said speculum'having a'tubular cylindrical portion provided at one end with a flaring portion or bell having an inwardly turned annularflip atvits outer end and the plunger fittingthe cylindrical portion and having aflange at its outer end;

1 THOMAS-EDGARBOBERSONJ .Witnesses:

F. W. J. F. Home. 

